Category: Talks, Discussions, Documentaries

THE BEATING HEART. An outside broadcast unit was allowed into the operatibng theatre for part of this one-hour documentary. Southern

These headings cover a wide range of subjects and a variety of methods of presentation. Whatever the subject or approach, the broad result is likely to be television which is informative or, in the best sense, educative. The importance with which this range of programming is regarded is reflected in the fact that each week Independent Television presents about 25 hours of talks, discussion and documentary programmes, representing about 14 per cent of the total output of separate programmes. On average, viewers in any one ITV area see about 5 hours a week of programmes in these categories. This output is additional to the presentation of news and news magazines, religion, school and adult education programmes.

Current Affairs

A regular flow of information and comment on a wide range of subjects is provided by Independent Television’s many current affairs series. The firmly-established weekly half-hour programme This Week (A-R) seeks to interpret and bring into focus some of the major events of the previous seven days, with specially shot film reports and studio interviews presented by Brian Connell. Roving Report (ITN) is another regular weekly programme, presenting reports on the current situation in overseas countries.

OUR STREET. Michael Ingrams in the documentary series which studied the life of an East End street. Associated-Rediffusion

WE SUBMIT. A programme series in which William Clark examined the findings of various Royal Commissions. ATV

SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN. Willoughby Gray writes and presents this programme featuring the history of the South of England. Southern

Other current affairs series transmitted over a number of Independent Television areas include What The Papers Say (Granada), a review of the treatment given by the Press to the week’s news; World in Action (Granada), giving the background to the news of the week; and Decision (A-R), a fortnightly survey of current political topics which is a sequel to Questions in the House (A-R). A weekly series which ran until October 1962 was Dinner Party (ATV), in which Lord Boothby was host to groups of distinguished people. Another weekly series which ran until the middle of the year was The Warning Voice (ATV), each programme dealing with a current social problem.

Most of the programme companies produce regular current affairs series for transmission in their own areas. There is a very wide range of subject matter and treatment, but there is a general emphasis on. local participation or topics of particular interest to local viewers.

Features

On alternate Wednesdays, in peak viewing time. Independent Television presents a full-length documentary feature programme. These are generally major studies on a topic of world or national importance, and a great deal of time and effort goes into their production.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS. Teledu Cymru film unit in Germany. WWN

EXPEDITION. This programme in the series told of the story of the rescue work to save hundreds of African animals. Associated-Rediffusion

ROVING REPORT. Weekly reports on the situation in the overseas countries. ITN

DO YOU AGREE? A weekly programme in which famous sayings – old and new – are discussed. Grampian

Personal Interviews

Series of interview programmes are produced in a number of ITV areas. Many bring into the studios local personalities or distinguished visitors; such programmes are primarily of local interest. A few series are of wider appeal. These include such series as I Believe (Granada), in which eminent upholders of various faiths expressed the reasons for their beliefs; Appointment With … (Granada), when Malcolm Muggeridge interviewed, in the main, leading political figures; and Dan Farson Meets … (A-R), – interviews with popular singers and musicians, a programme which had its sequel in Kingsley Amis Goes Pop. Also of wide interest was the series Meeting of Minds (ATV), in which two well-known people discussed an important, but not necessarily topical, subject; for example, J. B. Priestley and Colin Wilson discussed “The Critic and the Artist”.

Practical and Outdoor

Nearly all the programme companies produce one or more regular weekly series of practical and outdoor magazine programmes. Two series are partly networked: The Other Man’s Farm (ABC) and I am going to be (ATV), a series on careers. The rest, more than thirty series in all, are mostly shown in the areas of the producing companies. A major group is that of the farming magazines, which, while catering specifically for the interests and needs of the local farming community, often gain a wider viewing public. There are a few general country series and some gardening programmes. Several series deal with the care of animals and pets. Other series deal with various aspects of the home, child welfare and cookery.

The most popular times for the presentation of such programmes are during the evening or the early afternoon.

History

Recent history often figures in individual feature programmes or short series. A regular weekly series dealing with the events of twenty-five years ago is All Our Yesterdays (Granada), which makes fascinating use of newsreel film of the period. The history of local regiments is the subject of Soldiers of the Queen (Southern) and The Fighting Midlands (ATV). The history of Southern England was dealt with in Southern Heritage (Southern); while Once a Kingdom (Anglia) dealt with the history of East Anglia, with an emphasis on the archaeological aspects.

Science and Natural History

Series on science or natural history have become established as familiar features of Independent Television. They are usually presented as regular weekly programmes over a period of several months at a time. During the past six months there have been Breakthrough (Granada), a detailed study of the latest discoveries in natural history; The Origins of Man (ATV); the newest scientific developments examined in Threshold (ATV); and scientific research in Insight (A-R).

Miscellaneous

Each week a selection of outstanding documentary films is presented by John Grierson in This Wonderful World (Scottish). Another general documentary series is Here and Now (A-R) which four nights a week presents an on-the-spot report about some aspect of the world in which we live. Other series seen in several ITV areas have included Sing a Song for Sixpence (ATV), in which John Betjeman considers the English music hall; Salute to the Shorts (ATV), a series on British film documentaries; Command (ATV), a notable documentary study of the R.A.F.; Farson in Australia (A-R), a study of life in Australia; and The ABC of Democracy (A-R), dealing with various forms of democracy. In addition, there have been a number of local documentary series and individual programmes.

CALLER HERRING. A dramatic documentary. Tyne Tees

FOLLOW THE THREAD. A discussion programme on the topic of Irish linen. Ulster

THE FANATICS. A documentary telling the story of the suffragettes’ fight for the vote. Granada

THE LONG DAY. A one-hour documentary on Dartmoor. TWW

YOU’D NEVER BELIEVE IT. A mastiff and a Chihuahua appeared on this programme in the series. ABC